AIDS Healthcare Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, has called on the government and stakeholders to implement policies that promote equal access to healthcare, education and economic opportunities for young women and girls.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Advocacy and Marketing Manager AHF, Mr. Steve Aborisade, on Monday in Abuja, ahead of the 2023 International Day of the Girl Child.
The News Agency of Nigeria, reports that IDGC is commemorated annually on October 11, and focuses on addressing challenges girls face and promoting girls’ empowerment and fulfilment of their human rights.
The 2023 IDGC AHF theme ‘Amplify Her Voice’ is aimed at empowering girls to take control of their lives and health, while urging the government to implement policies that create equal opportunities for girls.
Country Programme Director, AHF Nigeria, Dr Echey Ijezie, said the foundation’s consistency in commemorating IDGC, was predicated on the need to create awareness of several challenges young women and girls encounter.
Ijezie listed the challenges to include unequal access to employment, and education opportunities, as well as increased barriers to healthcare compared to their counterparts.
According to him, advocates have drawn attention to many challenges the girlchild must overcome as they account for 50 per cent of people living with HIV and AIDS worldwide.
“Young women and girls are also among more than 500 million people enduring period poverty, including harmful stigma and inadequate access to hygiene products and proper facilities that hinder their success,” Ijezie added.
The Country Programme Director, however, said, that in promoting girls’ health and well-being, the foundation launched the successful ‘Girls Act’ programme in 2016 in Africa, noting that it has expanded to about 40 countries.
In commemoration of 2023 IDGC, AHF Nigeria would hold an ‘Amplify Her Voice’ event in Waru community FCT, Abuja and Uyo in Akwa Ibom state.
“The event would engage critical stakeholders, such as; advocates, government officials, heads of agencies, schools, pupils, AHF girls act as well as young women and girls.
“Topics on menstrual health management, age-appropriate comprehensive sexual education, unplanned pregnancy, staying in school, leadership and life skills, and confidence building among others would be taught through fun, educated and empowering sessions.
“There would be the distribution of sanitary pads at both events to promote safer menstrual health and advocacy on access to sanitary pads, especially for indigent girls,” it stated.
NAN reports that AHF is the largest global non-profit organisation currently providing care and advocacy to over 1.8 million clients in 45 countries including Nigeria.
(NAN)